San Diego Mothers' Milk Bank

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Have extra breast milk? Help us address a statewide milk shortage and feed NICU babies throughout California.

Donor breast milk helps sick or preterm infants whose mothers don't have sufficient milk supply to meet their infants' nutritional needs. Donor milk is especially crucial for preterm babies who weigh less than three pounds at birth. When these infants are fed only breast milk, they have a reduced rate of infection and intestinal complications, better neurodevelopmental outcomes, and fewer trips back to the hospital after leaving the NICU.

Donated milk is tested for infection, pasteurized and sold to hospitals at cost to feed infants who need mothers' milk. Donor mothers receive no compensation for their donation, other than the knowledge that they are helping babies thrive.

Qualify and Donate Breast Milk

You’re a good candidate if you and your baby are healthy, and you can donate at least 100 ounces of frozen breast milk that is sealed in breast milk bags or containers.

All donors are carefully screened. Donors fill out a health questionnaire, complete a form to be signed by their obstetrician and pediatrician, and have a one-time blood test done at no cost to them. After the one-time screening is complete, donors become registered milk donors

Future Breast Milk Donations

We are working with San Diego Blood Bank to establish community-wide donation locations. In the future, you'll be able to qualify and donate breast milk at these locations. Our
MothersMilk app will be ready to download soon and will help you find a breast milk donation site close to you.

About the San Diego Mothers' Milk Bank

The San Diego Mothers' Milk Bank at UC San Diego Health was founded with a generous gift from a local couple who is passionate about breastfeeding education and support. Thanks to the generous support of mothers in the community, the San Diego Mothers' Milk Bank has already shipped 15,000 ounces of milk to Mothers' Milk Bank of San Jose.